Album review: Example, The Evolution Of Man

Example

Ministry Of Sound, £12.99

* * * *

Come Taste The Rainbow might just be the reinvention of the album sampler, delivering the essence of Elliot Grieve (EG – Example – geddit?) in his new album’s opening track. He is not an uneducated man, even if he’s rather disposed toward lumpen lyrics. One Way Mirror contends that “You were frosty to me like I was Nixon,” a 20th-century political reference swung like a sledgehammer in a nutty direction.

Grieve’s strength is getting to his point efficiently and effectively, Queen Of Your Dreams and Say Nothing being cases in point. The record is more Black Sabbath than Black Eyed Peas with its meaty rock riffs, sitting cheek by jowl with grimy garage courtesy of Skream and Benga.

Snakeskin slithers in seductively with chat about change and a fresh start, which you would imagine is the last thing Elliot has in mind. As an artist and producer, songwriter and television pop quiz host, he currently has few peers.

He has a go at reinventing the bilious break-up song with Close Enemies and Perfect Replacement, but the over-riding impression is of a thoroughly modern pop performer who could succeed at whatever he chooses to try – which mercifully is not yet more cock-er-nee rap or rhyme, which will never convince.

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